Double blow for Sale: Gloucester sue over van Rensburg and new stadium plan causes anger
Premiership playoff-chasing Sale have been deal a double off-field blow – they are reportedly being sued by Gloucester over the Rohan Janse van Rensburg contractual debacle while plans for a new stadium have been hampered after thousands of people signed a petition against the plan.
The Sharks were handed a suspended five-point deduction at an RFU disciplinary hearing in April that investigated how South African van Rensburg wound up signing a three-year contract for Sale in January 2018 after originally inking a similar length deal with Gloucester just three months earlier.
The RFU fined van Rensburg £32,500 and issued a two-week ban, while Sale were given a £20,000 fine and handed the points deduction that has been suspended for two seasons. The disciplinary hearing’s written verdict laid bare the tensions between both clubs and it has now emerged that Gloucester are suing for damages, the Telegraph claiming they are chasing around £400,000 in compensation.
Meanwhile, the company behind Sale’s tentative move back to their hometown in the Greater Manchester area were forced to issue a statement just a week after unveiling ambitious plans to turn Crossford Bridge playing fields into a modern sports complex that would including housing the Sharks at a new stadium.
More than 3,000 signatures have been received by a change.org petition voicing concerns over the project. Speaking in the Manchester Evening News, petition organiser Catherine Perrin said: “The negative impact of these plans would be immense, not only to the people who use it but to the wildlife, environment and surrounding area.
Things have turned quite bitter between the clubs, if this remarkable hearing was anything to go by
– writes @heagneyl https://t.co/vwdWPlTais
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 24, 2020
“Generations of my family and I have grown up and lived in the Crossford Bridge area and it would be nothing short of heartbreaking to see such a place disappear.”
Edouard Whyte, who lives next door to the site, added: “We only received a letter informing us of the consultation on the day the Sale Sharks’ media coverage started to appear telling the UK they were ‘coming home’.
“This resulted in a lot of unrest and worry for those of us who live nearby. I know that all of the concerns I have voiced are shared by my neighbours and others living near us. We have rallied together over the past few days but we are all feeling very uneasy about what’s to come.”
The level of antipathy towards the project forced Crossford Futures to issue a statement in an attempt to allay growing fears. It read: “We can confirm that all parties have now entered dialogue around the vision for the potential development of Crossford Bridge and intend to hold preliminary discussions as part of a more detailed consultation which will take place in the coming weeks.
“Our shared priority is ensuring that all involved, including the clubs, local residents and the wider community benefit from any proposals for the site.
“We would like to reiterate that no solutions will be put forward in the second phase of consultation in the autumn that do not meet with approval from all of the parties involved, especially Sale United FC, Sale Harriers Manchester and Old Atrinchamians FC.
“Local residents and all the children who enjoy the current facilities will then have an opportunity to provide significant feedback as part of that second phase of consultation.”
Huge development coming out of Sale Sharks https://t.co/jQfOe7QxaG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 17, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Hopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
71 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
71 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
71 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
71 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
71 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
3 Go to comments